Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Trail

GET 50% OFF Ordnance Survey All first-time Trail Subscribers get 50% off OS Maps, the Ordnance Survey’s digital mapping service. That’s the equivalent of 607 paper maps in your pocket! PAGE 24 We made an embarrassing error of judgment in Trail around a decade ago, and enough time has passed that I’m finally prepared to admit it. The shameful facts are these: we dispatched our gear editor Ben to Ullapool in search of some great mountains to climb and then write about, as we often do. He delivered spectacularly on the brief, chalking up memorable ascents of two icons of the Assynt region, in the kind of glorious weather we love to encounter on our photoshoots. There was one problem, though – our Ben had climbed two more Bens (Ben…

1 THE "I DON'T NEED WATERPROOFS, IT'S JULY" BRIGADE Optimism is charming, but a soggy fleece which smells like a wet spaniel is not. For the love of God, just bring a jacket. 2 CHATTY UP HILLERS I love a natter. I really do. But not when I’m wheezing up something near-vertical and you’ve decided now is the time to discuss politics, pilates or your divorce. I’ll talk to you at the trig point. 3 DOGS IN JUMPERS WITH INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS This is a proper grumpy one because, really, it’s doing no harm to anyone. But if your whippet is sponsored by Ruffwear and is wearing a colour-coordinated boot/sock combo for summit pictures, I’m going to be irrationally miffed. Sorry. 4 SNACK STEALERS WHO "DIDN'T REALISE IT WAS A LONG…

Most Trail readers will be able to reel off more than a few Munros from memory. Ben Lomond in the south, Ben Hope in the far north, that big old bully Ben Nevis; perhaps Schiehallion too. And when it comes to Corbetts, a popular few might also spring to mind – Goat Fell on Arran, The Cobbler, Ben Venue or Ben Ledi. But what about Fionas? Wait. Hang on. Is that a Shrek reference? No, Donkey, it’s not, because you might well have heard of the Fionas already, just under a different name: the Grahams. This list of 219 hills was devised by and named after Fiona Torbet, whose maiden name was Graham. But in a rebrand of the only set of hills in Scotland compiled by a woman, they…

[HOW TO] STOP RUNNING LATE ON WALKS Always coming off the hill in the dark, or frequently missing the kitchen at the pub? Here’s how to make sure you come off the hill in time for piping hot chips. DO work out how long the route should take. That means precisely. If using mapping software or apps, make sure the speed is set to your pace. An average is 3kph but this can vary significantly between individuals. DO add time for breaks and faffing. Once you know how long the route should take to walk, add time for breaks. Tracking ‘moving time’ on apps such as Strava can help you make a more informed estimate, but most people will want to count on adding at least 90 minutes across a…

This route will never become a high-level Lake District classic. There are simply too many ups and downs and twists and turns. Just look at the warped, contorted line on the map – not exactly a perfect loop or textbook horseshoe. But, if you’re a Wainwright-bagger looking for an efficient summit-hopping visit to Loweswater, or a strong walker eager for full exposure to the delights of this quaint corner of Lakeland, then this might just be the hike for you. Loweswater is a peaceful little lake, with its own bothy, waterfall and a mixed woodland of alder, oak, lime, chestnut, ash and sycamore. In the Kirkstile Inn, the village boasts a top-notch post-walk watering hole too. This route bags five Wainwrights – Fellbarrow, Low Fell, Burnbank Fell, Blake Fell, Gavel…

DAY 2 6 NN926788 Time to bag a few more hills! From the hotel, head north and cross the river just outside. The river can rise quite high, so take care – this might be a shoes-and-socks-off crossing. Once across, follow the river up the glen. There’s no path here, so watch your step carefully to avoid twisting an ankle on the heather. The terrain flattens out at Sron na Macnanaich (854m), before a short but steep climb to the bealach leading to An Sgarsoch. Please bear in mind that it may be slow going up the hill, as pathless heather brashing can quickly tire you out! 7 NN933836 From the summit of An Sgarsoch, head west, descending to about 710m, then make a steep ascent to the summit of…

1 SO114225 Departing Talybont village, ensure you start next to The White Hart Inn to access the Taff Trail on the south-east side of the Caerfanell river. You will also need to cross a canal behind the inn, via an old packhorse bridge. Access the Taff Trail lying just above a disused railway, for approx 800m, before dropping off the Taff Trail (picking up signs for the Usk Valley Walk) and crossing the railway and river again, via footbridge and public footpath through a field, to the minor road above. Turn left onto the road and follow this for approx 550m south, pass a phone box on your right, and take the next right leaving the road. Ascend this minor lane for 400m to a corner where a public bridleway…

Dolomites, Italy “My husband Gary and I have just completed a month-long hiking and cycling trip in Europe in our motorhome. One of the most memorable and amazing days was hiking around Tre Cime (Three Chimneys) in the Dolomite mountains. Absolute stunning scenery and a memory we will cherish forever.” Helen Cooke Yorkshire Three Peaks, Yorkshire Dales “Completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks back in October, a journey of discovery and resilience – my first full day hike since my second hip replacement, plus three novice hikers and a cancer patient in remission. We found out just how stubborn and supportive we can be, helping each other along the way. And finishing in under 10 hours was an amazing achievement. They must've got a taste for it, as we’re now doing…

Without getting too bogged in technicalities, this is a tale of two hill lists. Both Fiona and a walker called Alan Dawson published lists in 1992, and on realising the amount of overlap they aligned the criteria as above and called them the Grahams (presumably thinking bagging Corbetts and Torbets could be confusing). In 2022, Alan revised the qualifying height down to a metric 600m and trademarked the name Grahams. Many hillbaggers wanted to keep it imperial, in line with the Munros (over 3000ft) and Corbetts (2500-3000ft), so there are again two lists: the Grahams (600m-762m) and the Fionas (2000-2500ft), both with a prominence of 150m (492ft). And that’s before we even mention the Donalds, a list of Scottish lowland peaks over 2000ft created in 1935.…

We should, of course take the time we spend in the mountains seriously, behaving responsibly while looking out for overselves and other. This I do but I've learnt to temper comon sense with a generous does of common siliness. Wouldn't it be a shame if there wasn't space to be a bit less serious along the way? After all, what's life without a little colour? So, when the chance to go wild camping on this absurdly named peak presented itself, it was too much to resist. The Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) hold many wonders for the intrepid mountain walker. From the rampant, ever-popular heights of Pen y Fan to the quiet westerly hills no-one can remember the names of; from waterfalls you can walk behind to a hill named after…

BEFORE THE WALK Get the basics sorted – that means footwear that fits and good quality walking socks. These will wick sweat away from your feet, reducing the friction that leads to blisters. Most also have extra cushioning on pressure spots and finer material elsewhere to aid venting. Tape up any known problem hot spots in advance. Climbing tape, zinc oxide tape or kinesiology tape are all great for this. When applying, take the time to smooth it out, making sure it’s free of wrinkles. Rounding off the corners with a pair of scissors can help prevent the tape rolling up once it’s on. WHEN YOU FEEL THE BURN Attend to hotspots as soon as you can – it will make a difference. Stop, tape or put a plaster over…

BEAD TECHNOLOGY The midsole is where the magic happens, and the beads are the magicians. These little balls are made from E-TPU (Expanded Thermoplastic Polyurethane), a high-performance foam material known for its exceptional elasticity, durability and energy return (the beads absorb energy when feet contact the ground and return it as the foot lifts for extra ‘spring’). In the midsole these beads are combined with PU (polyurethane) for stability, cushioning and durability. As well as offering a soft, springy feel underfoot, this PU/E-TPU mix is more resistant and retains performance longer than conventional cushioning materials – all of which has been verified by an independent test and research institute. The end result ensures maximum support for the feet in rugged hiking terrain. LIGHT BUT TOUGH The minimalist Kaduro has been…

Peak of the Black Hound and Slippery Peak of the Witch are evocative names for what some may think of as rather dull mountains. Nevertheless, visual spectacle is only one metric on which to appraise their merits, and to climb them is to learn their true worth. In the absence of ‘mural precipices’ they are found to be excellent ‘coigns of vantage’ and even on the busiest of days they are usually shunned in favour of the Ogwen honeypots. This is hillwalking as it used to be, beloved of the chuntering old guard of which I am a card carrying member. An easy approach march propels the walker into a quiet corner of the valley before the hard work begins. North Wales’ deepest lake is sensed and then seen from…

Mull’s Ardmeanach Peninsula bubbled into existence more than 50 million years ago, when underground volcanic activity forced lava up through fissures in the ground. Hidden in a rocky alcove at the westernmost tip of the peninsula, MacCulloch’s Fossil Tree is a true geological marvel. Reaching the tree is an adventure. From Burg, an estate managed by the National Trust for Scotland, a rough, goat-grazed path traverses between towering sea cliffs. Spectacular displays of hexagonal basalt columns and vast geometric wheels can be seen in the cliffs and on the beaches. Arriving at the end of the land, an exciting climb down a long ladder accesses a place labelled only as ‘The Wilderness’ on OS Maps. Waterfalls stream down dark cliffs, views stretching across to the Ross of Mull and out…

DAY 3 10 NN926788 Pack up everything from the bothy, taking all your litter with you – and any other rubbish you spot along the way if you have space. Then, cross the river just north of the bothy and follow the Tarf Water eastward. 11 NN956798 About 3km from the bothy, cross the shallow river near the wooden building and follow the gravel track south-east. The track winds through the stunning glen before joining the River Tilt, where you’ll find plenty of inviting swim spots – perfect for a refreshing dip on a warm day. If you’re cycling, you can pick up your bikes again as the route passes Forest Lodge. Retrace your steps from Day 1, crossing Gaw’s Bridge. For some variety, skip crossing Gilbert’s Bridge and stay…

1 SO062170 Starting from Blaen y Glyn Isaf car park, pick up a distinct trail heading west through woodland, keeping above the Caerfanell river for approx 500m to reach a path junction where you can ascend north-west into forestry, away from the river. 2 SO059173 Climb more steeply to gain over 100m in height towards an upper car park, passing waterfalls and a footbridge. The path emerges at the south-west end of this car park, picking up waymarkers for the Beacons Way as this public footpath ascends steeply, keeping the stream Nant Bwrefwr on your left and forestry on your right. Above the 500m contour, ascend above the forestry boundary towards the very steep nose of Craig y Fan Ddu (rock of the black hill). The next 150m of height…

From the top of the highest peak in the range, it looked as if the glaciers had returned. But it wasn’t kilometrethick tongues of ice that filled the valleys, it was something much less weighty: cloud inversions. Two worlds existed – the early morning, crisply sun-rich realm of above the cloud; and the dank, chilly world beneath that blanket. A golden eagle, not yet six months old, sat, talons gripping a flake of the rock it was perched on. What it thought of the sea of white that had filled its valleys overnight we’ll never know, but we do know that it was the first inversion it had seen. Being an eagle meant that sitting around looking and snoozing filled vast portions of its, so far, brief life. Its sole…

Musician, yachtmaster, environmental campaigner and hill-walker: Fiona Torbet climbed all the Munros and most of the Corbetts, and reportedly preferred wellies to walking boots – even for Skye’s Cuillin Ridge. After a skiing accident in 1989 put her in hospital, Torbet began poring over maps, devising a new list of Scotland’s smaller hills. Published in 1992, then revised with Alan Dawson, these peaks became known as the Grahams, after Fiona’s maiden name. Torbet’s story, however, took a tragic turn in July 1993, when she went missing on a walking holiday in Kintail. A search was launched and repeated appeals were made in the papers, but no trace was found. Then, the following spring, Fiona’s body was discovered buried in the garden of the B&B where she had been staying. She…

The route ticks off five Wainwrights: Pike of Stickle (709m), Rossett Pike (651m), Bow Fell (902m), Crinkle Crags (Long Top is the highest point at 859m) and Pike of Blisco (705m). If you’ve got the legs, or can add in a wild camp, you can easily bag six more – five that Alfred admired, and one he (clearly) did not. PAVEY ARK (700M) “Pavey Ark is Langdale’s biggest cliff. In an area where crags and precipices abound, here is the giant of them all, and, scenically, it is the best.” THUNACAR KNOTT (723M) “From north and south and east and west, Thunacar Knott is completely unphotogenic…This uninspiring characteristic extends to the whole fell, which is quite deficient in interest.” HARRISON STICKLE (736M) “The majesty and masculine strength of the Langdale…

A leister Crowley knew how to make a name for himself. At one point, it was ‘the Beast 666’. At another, Frater Perdurabo of the Outer Order of the Golden Dawn. Later he ran with ‘the wickedest man in the world’. In life, the press damned him as a Satanist, and the poet WB Yeats, fellow in an esoteric order, called him ‘indescribably mad’. He stands among the crowd on the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper album cover, famed more for his esoteric ritual sex and drug use than for any of his poetry, philosophy or religious writings. And in mountaineering, his name is often little more than a footnote. But Crowley was a visionary climber for his time. Never a man to obey convention, his adventures took him onto terrain that…

ED JACKSON Adventurer & co-founder of Millimetres2Mountains millimetres2mountains.org “One of my scariest moments was on Himlung Himal in Nepal. Our guide fell through a crevasse and we ended up having to overnight on the mountain, at 6000m, without tents, food or water. Luckily we managed to stay awake, otherwise we would have frozen. A stark reminder to respect the environment, always.” CATH WILSON MCI, WML & co-director of Leading Edge leadingedge-mountain.co.uk “It was midsummer and my climbing partner and I started a long route on Clogywn Du’r Arddu (Cloggy) at a late hour, thinking we just had enough time. We got to the start of the last pitch at 11pm and there wasn’t enough light to see. We had no headtorches, so we had to wait on the belay ledge…

In the secret heart of the Cairngorms, the Devil lures you into his domain. Unseen by most visitors to the National Park, the arrowhead peak of The Devil’s Point is the most fascinating peak in the range. Its name is a Victorian euphemism for the Gaelic Bod an Deamhain (The Devil’s Penis). Like a guarding sentinel, it towers over the southern entrance to the Lairig Ghru – the great pass that runs between the Cairngorms’ highest summits, linking Braemar to Aviemore. Flanked by crags on three sides, it permits easy access only from the saddle that separates it from other Munros on the Western Cairngorms Plateau. This saddle can be reached by a corrie that outflanks the crags on the peak’s north side. After a long approach walk to Corrour…

The South Pennines are characterised by wild swathes of windswept moorland where deep, twisting dales once thumped to the sound of pounding mills. One of these valleys – the Cliviger Gorge – was formed by a glacier which carved a surprisingly dramatic gorge across what is now the boundary between Lancashire and Yorkshire. Today, the valley carries both road and rail, but sharp-sided cloughs lead up to broad open ridges – where a spectral huntsman is said to haunt the hillsides. He might be a bit annoyed at the windfarm above Willingate Wham – but what a name! The walk begins in the village of Portsmouth – so named, it is said, by a returning naval officer – and heads up narrow Beater Clough to cross Thieveley Pike. A descent…

DAY 1 1 NN874662 Begin your journey at the Bridge of Tilt car park. The route to the first Munro (Carn a’ Chlamain) follows a scenic, wide gravel track that’s excellent for cycling – perfect if you want to save your legs for the steeper climbs. Head uphill on the track just north of the car park, winding through forest. After a few kilometres, the track forks; take the left path (both lead to Carn a’ Chlamain). Continue along the stunning Glen Tilt until you reach Gilbert’s Bridge. For cyclists, cross Gilbert’s Bridge to stay on the gravel track. If you’re on foot, consider a prettier option: go through the diamond-shaped fence to walk alongside the river to Gaw’s Bridge, where the two routes meet. For the mapped route, cross…

1 SO056176 Exit the car park west and follow the main track to the road. Cross the road to pick up a wide track, waymarked for Beacons Way/Taff Trail. Follow this steadily through forestry for just under 4.5km. Keep an eye on distance travelled to help locate where a public right of way from the valley below. joins the track on the left. 2 SO091172 Leave the Taff Trail, taking the Beacons Way along the continuing public right of way as it heads eastnorth-east uphill. After crossing a second track it climbs to the top of the ridge. Leave the Beacons Way (which continues north-east) and turn sharply right to follow the ridge south-west along a wide track for 3.2km. The route follows the line of the ridge south-west, passing…